May 9, Cranston High School East acknowledged the hard work and academic dedication of students during the annual National Honor Society induction ceremony.

The newest class of 68 inductees includes juniors and a handful of seniors. Additionally, 11 students were inducted into the National Art Honor Society, including seniors and juniors.

Adriany Cruz, who currently serves as the president of Cranston East’s National Honor Society chapter, introduced the platform guests at the event. The Cranston East JROTC Honor Guard provided the entrance march, while the JROTC Color Guard completed the presentation of colors. The national anthem was performed by juniors Isabella Babalato, Tessa Bellotti, Sebastian Borgia, Domenic Fusco III and Angela Thoeung.

Principal Sean Kelly praised the inductees for exemplifying a “standard of excellence in the classroom.”

“Your dedication to becoming a highly educated member of society is something that you, along with our entire community, should celebrate,” he said.

Mayor Allan Fung said he is proud of the students for their “commitment to the community, their sense of service and leadership.”

“Know that not only myself, but your parents and friends that are in the audience tonight are very proud of your accomplishments,” he told the inductees.

Dan Wall, chairman of the Cranston School Committee, said the ceremony represented the culmination of years of hard work for the students being honors.

“As an honoree, you must understand these two things – hard work and success,” he said. “If you are sitting here tonight, you put in hard work. You surely had to overcome obstacles and setbacks, and you probably had to make more than one sacrifice. But you did it … and tonight is the culmination, it is the reward for that hard work.”

Blake Danforth, faculty advisor for the school’s National Honor Society chapter, delivered the faculty tribute during the ceremony.

“My biggest piece of advice I want to give you is this – as cliché as it may sound, make sure you are taking time along the way to just stop and smell the roses,” he said. “This time will be over before you know it, and some of you may find yourself 25 years from now standing up on a stage a lot like this one, telling a completely new generation of 17-year-olds your own classroom stories.”

Cruz and other incumbent officers of the society lit the candles that represented each pillar of the NHS. Current vice president Delia Maguire lit the candle of scholarship, while secretary Eleanor Trimm lit the candle of service, secretary Sokpearoun Lorn lit the candle of leadership and Cruz lit the candle of character.

After the lighting of the candles, inductees stood and recited the induction pledge. Kelly, Danforth and James Dillon, executive director of student information services and data management for the school district, participated in inducting the new class.

Emily Fontes, current president of the National Art Honor Society chapter, led the new inductees into her group in their pledge. She acknowledged that members had participated in three “outreach projects” in which they received anywhere from 10 to 20 hours of community service. She also mentioned the list of incumbent society officers, including vice president Antonio Lucchetti, treasurer Michelle Phan, secretary Gerilou Ebrada, and historian Karissa Handrich.

Kelly, faculty advisor Jill Cyr and Dillon inducted the new art honor society members.

The ceremony also included students and inductees receiving book awards and medals, presented by faculty and administration.

The Pell Medal, presented by history teacher Scott Maynard, was awarded to junior Eden Fisher. This award, named after U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, is given to a student who showcases outstanding skills in U.S. history. Fisher also won the Harvard Book award for her “excellence in scholarship and character,” with the award presented by Dean of Students Isa Tejada.

Maynard also awarded the Saint Michael’s Book Award to Rose Lovenbury and Troy Santopadre. The award is given to students who demonstrate a “commitment to volunteerism and leadership in community service.”

The Wellesley Book Award, presented by Assistant Principal Chris D’Ambrosio, is given to a female student who has an “exceptional” academic record and has made contributions to the school community. The award was presented to junior Maya Lane.

Assistant Principal Sandi Matoian-Heard presented the Johnson and Wales Business Award to Courtney Holmes and Shyan Ouch. The award is given to students who demonstrate excellence in their business classes.

Music teacher Pam Lowell inducted juniors Abigail Babola, Tessa Bellotti, Sebastian Borgia, Amanda Fang, Domenic Fusco III, Samuel Hinds, Nadya Lehnert, Rose Lovenbury, Troy Santopadre and Aggerlynn Vetiaque into the Tri-M Music Honor Society. This society’s induction is based not only on scholarship, service, leadership and character, but musicianship as well.

The next award, given out by math teacher and National Honor Society faculty advisor Nina DiIorio, was the Society of Women Engineers Award. This award is based on a student’s interest in science and math, and is given to one female and one male student. The recipients of the award were Nadya Lehnert and Christian Adams.

The Bryant University Book Award, also presented by DiIorio, is given to a student who is in the top 10 percent of their class with a grade point average of 3.6 or higher. A recipient must also be active in extracurricular activities. The award was presented to junior Matthew Mellor, who also received the Xerox Award for Innovation and Technology. That award is given to a student who has an interest in technology or has had success in the field.

The Bausch and Lomb Award, presented by math teacher Teresa Sullivan, is given to a student who has achieved “high scholastic standing in science subjects.” The recipient of the award was junior Thien Vo.

Tejada also presented the George Eastman Young Leaders Award, given out to a student who has demonstrated skills in academic and leadership areas. Genesis Aldana was the winner of the award.

The University of Rhode Island Book Award, presented by Assistant Principal Dave Aulenbach, is awarded to a student who contributes to and services the school and the community. The recipient of the award was junior Hannah Murphy.

The Rensselaer Medal, presented by Danforth, is given to a student who showcases success in science and math subjects. Honorees are also involved in activities and take on rigorous academics. The winner of this medal was Sharon Wu.

Danforth also presented the Brown Book Award, given to a student who demonstrates excellence in academics through both written and spoken work. The winner of the award was Indiamei Coren-Gold.

The Smith College Book Award was given to Reagan Rojek. Presented by Assistant Principal Joseph Potemri, it is given to a student who exhibits achievement in academics and leadership, along with community service.

After the book awards, the officers for both honor societies were installed for the 2019-20 school year.

National Honor Society officers include president-elect Indiamei Coren-Gold, vice president-elect Matthew Mellor, secretary-elect Reagan Rojek and secretary-elect Amanda Fang.

National Art Honor Society officers are president-elect Millie Wignall, vice president-elect Eden Fisher, secretary-elect Betzy Cordon, treasurer-elect Alyssa Whelan and historian-elect Eden Jutras.

National Honor Society inductees

Seniors:

Natalia Alfonzo Gomez, Natalie Butterfield, Amber Carnevale, Alexandria Dayacap, Alina Gold, Christian Pena

Juniors:

Yessica Acosta, Christian Adams, Rahil Al-Bahyat, Genesis Aldana, Maria del Pilar Antigua Brito, Isabella Babalato, Abigail Babola, Carolina Baldomar, Tessa Bellotti, Sebastian Borgia, Greyson Boudreau, Carrie Cairns, Sofia Calderon Alzate, Enid Corcoran, Betzy Cordon, Indiamei Coren-Gold, Danielle Derisier, Joshua Dugan, Rebecca Eaton, Rose Espinal, Amanda Fang, Eden Fisher, Isabella Florenz, Domenic Fusco III, Hope Halvarson, Mason Harris, Samuel Hinds, Courtney Holmes, Samuel Hunt, Eden Jutras, Han Lam, Maya Lane, Nadya Lehnert, Rose Lovenbury, Vy Mai, Griffin Martin, Andrew McGrath, Matthew Mellor, Hannah Murphy, Kiara Orellana, Andrew Ou, Shyan Ouch, Iyanna Paniagua, Nicoletta Parente, Brianna Prado, Ana Ramos, Tristan Rasmussen, Chanlima Rin, Chansakana Rin, Reagan Rojek, Troy Santopadre, Jeremy Scungio, Abigail Sparks, Giannie Soto, Angela Thoeung, Destiny Thorpe, Haleigh Trottier, Aggerlynn Vetiaque, Thien Vo, Alyssa Whelan, Millie Wignall, Sharon Wu

National Art Honor Society inductees

Seniors:

Lia Dietrich, Allie Notarianni

Juniors:

Enid Corcoran, Betzy Cordon, Eden Fisher, Courtney Holmes, Eden Jutras, Han Lam, Maya Lane, Alyssa Whelan, Millie Wignall